Spice up your life

Yesterday saw the 60th anniversary of a report to government, headed by Sir Arthur Hobhouse, which called for national park status for the South Downs. This is the only remaining area Hobhouse recommended as a national park that does not have that status. The government should be congratulated for recommencing the designation process for a South Downs national park.
Ben Fogle President-elect, Council for National Parks,
Robin Crane Chairman, South Downs Campaign,
Rodney Legg Chairman, Open Spaces Society,
Michael Allen Chairman, Wildlife Trusts,
Chris Smith President, Ramblers' Association

Although your report on the health benefits of Indian food (July 17) is a step forward, you may hear a cry of "I told you so" from the Indian community. As a chef of Indian origin myself, I have often extolled the virtues of using herbs and spices for medicinal purposes. Within Indian communities it is widely known that fennel aids digestion, cardamom can be used for throat problems and ajwain can be used to treat colds.Anirudh AroraHead chef, Moti Mahal, London

Something of an own goal: the QC for the Tory party (£8m donor to Tory party was delusional, July 18) cites the donor's admiration for Mrs Thatcher as a reason for changing his will, yet he is trying to convince the court that the benefactor was not suffering from insane delusions.Richard Towers Sheffield

Has Wales shrunk in the rain? Hilary McLaren (Letters, July 18) writes that its breadth is that of 99,000 35mm film canisters laid end to end. But film canisters are about 5cm tall, so 99,000 would stretch for about 500,000cm, or 5km.Peter OwenLiverpool

What splendid juxtapositioning: a report about increasing wealth disparity (A divided country, July 7) printed next to an advert for buy-to-let mortgages. David SteeleSutton, Surrey

I feel sure that Gordon Brown would approve of my old school motto (Letters, July 9): propositi tenax (firm of purpose). Jack RydingTrefnant, Denbighshire